Apparatus for manufacturing boiler headers



A. JEAVONS APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING BOILER HEADERS Filed Feb. 4, 192a H. Jeaz/ons lNveM-rOR Patented Aug. 17, 1926.

erase sr TEs 1,596,104 PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT JEAVONS, 0F ETTINGSI-IALL, WOLVERHAMPTON, -ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN THOMPSON (WOLVEBI-IAMPTON) LIMITED, OF ETTINGSHALL, WOLVERHAMP- TON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS ron MANUFACTURING Bormin HEADERS.

Application filed February 4, 1926, Serial No. 86,064, and in Great Britain August 7, 1925.

The invention comprises the employment of a pair of relatively movable dies adapted to produce the required configuration on one side of an initially parallel tube, one of the dies being such that the tube can be slipped 7 over itin an endwise direction, together with thrust pieces which can be inserted through holes formed in the side of the tube opposite to that to be acted on, the said thrust pieces serving to exert or resist the working pressure on the dies.

The invention also comprises the construc-.

tion and arrangement of the dies as hereinafter described.

In the accompanying sheet of explanatory draw1ngs:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and Figure 2 a transverse section showing diagrammatically one manner of carrying the invention into effect.

Referring to the drawings, the header is made from a parallel-sided solid drawn tube a of rectangular cross section. Holes 1) are first formed along one side of the tube to receive ultimately the usual inspection covers. Also the holes for receiving the tube ends may be formed in the opposite side of the tube, although these may be formed after the shaping operation.

The dies each consist of a pair of bars, 0, cl. One of the bars 0 is such that the tube a can be slipped over it in an endwise direction, and the clearance allowed is such that the tube can readily be moved over it both before and after the shaping operation, rollers e in one side of the bar serving to facilitate the sliding of the tube. This bar has formed on or secured to its operative side a series of bosses f each having an inclined face, corresponding in shape to the configuration to be imparted to the tube a or header, at each position where another tube is to be connected. I

The other bar d is adapted to be moved parallel to itself by the plungers of a hydraulic press or by any other suitable agency. The operative side of this bar consists of a plurality of stepped inclined faces g each of which is preferably fiat and arranged to extendtransversely across the bar. In a lateral or transverse direction thesefaces exert no constraint on-the metal of the header tube a but allow the same to move freely under the action of the die within the tube during the shaping operation.

On the side of the first'mentioned die 0 opposite to the second'die d a fixed abutment h is arranged and secured to this abutmentare a number of thrust pieces i which can enter the inspection cover holes I) in the tube a.

Preferably the dies are mounted horizontally and are movable in a vertical plane. The fixed abutment being uppermost, the pressure is applied to the underside of the lower die. If desired the disposition may be reversed, or the lower tool may be fixed and the pressure exerted by the thrust pieces.

The intermediate die 0 is attached to the abutment h and to the lower die d by a pair of links 7', is, located near one end of dies, leaving the opposite end clear for sliding the tube on and off the die 0. Each link is formed with a slot, and a connecting pin or bolt Z, m is inserted through the slot into the' die 0. The arrangement of the slotted links is such that in the initial position of the tools as shown the die 0 is clear of both the thrust pieces and the lower die, so that the tube to be shaped can readily be slipped into and out of position.

In operation, a heated tube a is placed on the upper die, and shaped. by the squeezing action set up when the tools are closed together. The only face of the tube on which pressure is exerted is that to be shaped, as the pressure on the die 0 is received or exerted by the thrust pieces.

After shaping, the toolsare separated, leaving the die 0 clear for removal of the finished tube.

To prevent endwise movement of the die 0 relatively to the lower die and thrust pieces, projections 12 on the lower die are arranged to slide through apertures in the bar 0, and an extension 0 on one of the thrust pieces is arranged to engage a hole 3; in the bar 0. The tube a is properly located on the bar 0 by the use of a stop 9.

For some purposes tubes are attached to both sides of the header. In such cases each side is treated in the manner above described, the shaping operation being carried out first on one side and afterwards on the other.

By this invention the formation of stepped inclined faces on a header can be carried out in rapid and economical manner, and the apparatus required is of a simple and robust character.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Means for the production of headers with inclined faces for multi-tubular boilers, comprising a pair of relatively movable dies adapted to produce the required configuration on one side of an initially parallel header tube, one of the dies being such that the header tube can be slipped over it in an endwise direction, and thrust pieces which can pass through holes in the side of the tube opposite to that to be acted on, the said thrust pieces serving to exert or resist the working pressure on the dies substantially as described.

2. In means for producing a plurality of inclined faces on a header for multitubular boilers, the combination comprising a bar having a plurality of inclined faces formed thereon, another bar having a plurality of inclined faces thereon, the second bar being such that the header tube can be slipped over it; a plurality of thrust pieces adapted to pass through holes in the header tube and abut on the bar within the tube, a member carrying the thrust pieces, and means interconnecting the bars and the said member, substantially as described.

3. In apparatus as claimed in claim 2, the combination with the bar over which the header tube is slipped, of rollers on which the upper side of the tube is supported.

4. In apparatus as claimed in claim 2,

the combination with the two bars and the member carrying the thrust pieces, of a pair of slotted links, secured respectively to the outer die bar and the said member, means for connecting the said links to the inner die bar, projections on the outer die bar engaging the inner die bar, a projection on one of the thrust pieces engaging the inner die bar, and a stop on the inner die bar for co-operating with one end of the header tube, substantially as described.

5. In means for producing a plurality of inclined faces on one side of a header tube for multitubular boilers, the combination comprising a lower horizontal die bar movable in a vertical plane, an upper horizontal die bar adapted to receive the header tube, an upper liXed abutment, a plurality of thrust pieces on the said abutment, slotted links connecting the upper die bar to the lower die bar and the abutment, and projections on the lower die bar and one of 3 the thrust pieces for engaging the upper die bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ALBERT JEAVONS. 

